Michael Waterford, employer liaison for microelectronics and the Department of Defense, said semiconductors are part of a large-scale, rapidly growing industry. He said Ivy Tech Bloomington and its partners will introduce students to semicondcutors and upskill workers in South Central Indiana for those jobs.
“It's being described as the fastest growing federally funded industry since the Space Race,“ Waterford said. “Ivy Tech, our role is to hopefully provide a workforce for that industry. We're very happy to be one piece of that puzzle.”
The Silicon Crossroads Microelectronic Commons Hub, led by the Applied Research Institute headquartered in Bloomington, has funded the free summer sessions. The Silicon Crossroads is a coalition composed of members from Indiana, Illinois and Michigan.
Every computing system uses microelectronics like semiconductors — cell phones, TVs, laptops, spacecrafts — to store information. After disruptions to the supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government enacted the CHIPS and Science Act to jumpstart manufacturing in the U.S.
The Governor’s Office reported that since 2022, eight companies have planned to establish manufacturing plants and committed to invest more than $6 billion. It’s estimated the plants will create 2,100 new jobs.
The semiconductor presents an opportunity for high wage, high demand careers, said Sarah Cote, Dean of the School of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, and Applied Science. She said Ivy Tech’s programs work for high schoolers just starting out or anyone looking for a career change.
“I think it's a great opportunity for folks,” Cote said.
Summer sessions as introductions to semiconductors
Cote said Ivy Tech’s high school summer experiences were planned first, but adults showed interest and asked to join. Then, they planned the Introduction to Semiconductors.
“That's why we developed the three-day kind of mini session — by popular demand,” Cote said.
Adult session participants will hear from industry leaders, including Brett Hamiliton, senior vice president of microelectronics and advanced technology strategy at Applied Research Institute. Ivy Tech planned a tentative visit to Westgate@Crane, the technology center with Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane.
Adults will learn the basics of semiconductor manufacturing, programming and automation, Waterford said. This will help them understand the basics of technician roles.
“That will include advanced manufacturing skills, clean room preparation and information,” Waterford said. “Everything from soldering to, of course, lectures on semiconductors.”
The 10-day high school student session is similar. Cote said high schoolers will be introduced to semiconductors and the industry. Like the adult session, high schools will gain some soldering experience and take advantage of Ivy Tech’s robots.
Students will build and study robotics, Cote said. They’ll learn about automation, which is important in the semiconductor industry. Four field trips and a maze are planned.
On the last day, the high schools will create their own drag race: The Mini 500.
“That'll be kind of our culmination at the end,” Cote said. “Our big celebration is having that little competition.”
“They can finish it within two semesters, or even a semester and a half, depending on the number of classes they want to take at each time,” Cote said.
Cote said Ivy Tech received a new robotic system included in the program.
“We're getting a very large new robotic system that will not only teach the automation, but there's now internal vision sensors and things where the robots communicate with each other and autonomously go and do things that need to happen,” Cote said.
She said these courses are unlike anything Ivy Tech has taught in the past.
